Oh how I wish I loved oatmeal . . . I know its so good for you but I just can not seem to acquire the taste. Please tell me you feel my pain?

No matter how many different brands, flavours or  combinations I try I just can’t do it.

I wan’t to, really I do. I just can’t. I think its a texture thing?

Oats on their own I can eat, no problem. I don’t love them but I can eat them. Especially when you add a little fruit, maybe some yoghurt or milk and I’m good to go but oatmeal/porridge . . . no deal!

So how does granola fit into this picture? I’m not entirely sure. Store bought stuff doesn’t really do much for me. I always find it a little overly sweet, or its so crunchy and over cooked that it cuts my poor little mouth to shreds which is so not cool . . . or appealing for that matter, not in any way, shape or form.

What I am sure of with absolute certainty is that I am in love with this recipe and I just know that as soon as you smell it baking away in your oven, you will love it too. No question 🙂

Seriously, I can’t get enough. It’s the perfect pick me up. It totally satisfy’s my sweet craving while keeping me full for more than 5 mins at a time and it’s also super healthy (I won’t tell if you won’t ;)). Plus chocolate for breakfast . . . people we have had this conversation many times over the past year and I think you know where I stand on the matter. Chocolate for breakfast . . . I am so ok with that 🙂 you should be too . . .  really!

Its really easy to make, so no excuses (sorry I may have been watching a bit to much of the biggest loser )

Anyways, make it . . . you’ll like it . . . trust me 🙂

Oh and not to rub it in or anything but, tomorrow I head off on holidays for 3 weeks! Holla! So excited. Don’t worry I will be sharing some tasty treats while I’m away. After all a girls gotta eat right? 😉

If your good, maybe I will bring back a little somethin’ somethin’ for you. But only if your good . . . any requests?? Leave me a comment and let me know . . . I’ll see what I can do 🙂

Ingredients –
Recipe inspired by this recipe from Always with Butter –
Serves 8

3 cups oats
2 Tbsp cocoa
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup cranberries
1/8 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup hazelnuts

Method –

Preheat oven to 175’C (350’F)

First up we need to roast these little babies.

Place hazelnuts on baking sheetroast for 10-15 mins (shaking the tray half way through) until skins are very dark and you can smell the delicious, fragrant nutty aroma (MMMmMMMM sooooo good just quietly . . . just you wait ;))

While the nuts are roasting, put your oats in a medium size bowl.

Add brown sugar,

Then cocoa

and vanilla

Next, pour in the maple syrup

then water

and stir until well combined.

Remove the hazelnuts from the oven (see how their little skins have separated from the kernel?)

Place the hazelnuts in the middle of a clean teatowel

Fold the tea towel over the top

and rub, rub, rub, rub, rub

until most of the skins have rubbed away.

Majority of the skins will rub away no problem (and look so manky and gross just laying there in your poor ol’ tea towel. Don’t worry if all the skins don’t come away, no biggie . . .

Put the delicious (and now naked) hazelnuts into a mortar an pestle if you have one (if not you can just put them into another small bowl. Crush them until they are nice and small and crumbly (don’t over do it though, we want some big chunks still . . . well thats how I like it anyway. If you prefer to have a hazelnut powder then go for it. Its your granola and you can smash your hazelnuts if you want to ;))

Add the nut crumble to the rest of the oat mix and stir to combine

Pour the oat mix onto a baking sheet

Spread the mix evenly and bake for 7-10 mins then give it a stir, repeat this 3 times in total cooking for a total of 30 mins. Remember it will dry out a little more as it cools. You don’t want to over cook it, remember over cooked oats cut pretty little mouths . . . no one wants that, trust me!

While the granola is baking, measure out your cranberries.

Chop them up nice and fine.

Once your granola has baked, remove from the oven and add the chopped cranberries

stir to combine then set aside to cool.

Enjoy plain, just by the handful or with some yoghurt and strawberries (and a nice hot cup of coffee) for breakfast.

Or even just with some nice cold milk. Either way its delicious.

Oh and FYI if you choose to have it with some ice cold milk . . . once your finished enjoying your delicious bowl of granola, your left with a little cup of chocolate milk!

Its win, win 🙂

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Printable Version –

Ingredients –
Recipe inspired by this recipe from Always with Butter –
Serves 8

3 cups oats
2 Tbsp cocoa
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup cranberries
1/8 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup hazelnuts

Method –

Preheat oven to 175’C (350’F)

Place hazelnuts on baking sheet and roast for 10-15 mins (shaking the tray half way through) until skins are very dark and you can smell the delicious, fragrant nutty aroma (MMMmMMMM sooooo good just quietly . . . just you wait ;))

While the nuts are roasting, put your oats in a medium size bowl.

Add brown sugar,

Then cocoa

and vanilla

Then pour in the maple syrup

then water

and stir until well combined.

Remove the hazelnuts from the oven (see how their little skins have separated from the kernel?)

Place the hazelnuts in the middle of a clean teatowel

Fold the tea towel over the top

and rub, rub, rub, rub, rub

until most of the skins have rubbed away

Put the delicious (and now naked) hazelnuts into a mortar an pestle if you have one (if not you can just put them into another small bowl.

Leaving the manky bitter tasting skins behind (appetising . . . not!!!)

Dont worry if all the skins don’t come away, no biggie . . .

Smash the hazelnuts until they are nice and small and crumbly (don’t over do it though, we want some big chunks still . . . well thats how I like it anyway. If you prefer to have a hazelnut powder then go for it. Its your granola and you can smash your hazelnuts if you want to ;))

Add the nut crumble to the rest of the granola mix

and stir to combine

Pour the oat mix onto a baking sheet and bake for 7-10 mins then give it a stir, repeat this 3 times in total cooking for a total of 30 mins. Remember it will dry out a little more as it cools. You don’t want to over cook it, remember over cooked oats cut pretty little mouths . . . no one wants that, trust me!

While the granola is baking, measure out your cranberries.

Chop them up nice and fine.

Once your granola has baked, remove from the oven.

add chopped cranberries and stir to combine.

Set aside to cool.

Enjoy with some yoghurt and strawberries (and a nice hot cup of coffee) for breakfast.

Or even just with some nice cold milk.

Either way its delicious, morning, noon or night.

Oh and FYI if you choose to have it with some ice cold milk . . . once your finished enjoying your delicious bowl of granola, your left with a little cup of chocolate milk!

Its win, win 🙂

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Nutritional Info (approx per 1/2 cup) obtained using fatsecret.com –

Cal – 118
Fat – 3.3
Carbs –16g
Protein – 2g
Fiber –  1.1